ECS Z87H3-A2X motherboard review

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The ECS Z87H3-A2X is an ATX sized motherboard intended for a more high end user, which shows as this is a high-end class product. Let's have a quick peek at the box first, shall we? Below is the packaging and bundle. As you'll notice the motherboard is certainly a good looking board, alright. An all new black style.

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Included with the package are the regulars including manuals, driver CDs, SATA cables and a rear IO plate, SLI bridge and WIFI Antenna. Nothing extreme, but enough to get you up and running.

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There ya go. ECS is clearly applying a new design. Honestly, it's not my style as there is too much going on color wise. I've been telling them for years now, use only two colors e.g. black/red or something. One glance at the motherboard and we see, black, gold, red and chrome/silver. That's just not a suitable style for the year 2013. Other then that, it does look like a very decent motherboard with a nice dar black PCB color. One antenna can be installed. But let's have a closer look at the rear IO first.

 

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The I/O back panel reveals four USB 2.0 ports and another four USB 3.0 ports. A Realtek ALC1150 high definition audio codec is the source for audio and we spot not one, but two 10/100/1000 fast Ethernet jacks (Realtek 8111G) Missing is a PS/2 combo port that could have been used for either a keyboard or a mouse, we spot an optical SPDIF in/out port and six audio jacks. The big blue blob is a Bluetooth radio and I also notice two eSATA ports.

Then monitor connectors wise:

  • 1 x DisplayPort with max. resolution up to 4096x2160@24Hz, 24bpp/ 3840x1600@60Hz, 24bpp
  • 1 x HDMI ports  with max. resolution up to 4096x2160@24Hz, 24bpp/2560x1600@60Hz, 24bpp/ 1920x1080@60Hz, 36bps.

Can you see the small grey button ? The lower one is a clear CMOS button.

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The motherboard is interesting  to look at really. The Z87H3-A2X has a 12 Phase Digital Power Design. The board features one three x16 Gen 3.0 expansion slots, two x1 and a PCI slot .

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The ECS Z87H3-A2X has one 8-pin power feed for the processor located just behind the rear IO panel. 

The ECS Z87H3-A2X is built with Durathon Technology components that entails a Triple density PCB, extreme testing and Ice Chokes 1.5X greater stability offering 50˚ wider temperature range and reduing heat by 13% more than standard ferrite chokes, even under full loading operations. 2) Dual Cooling MOS ECS’s exclusive new Dual Cooling MOSFETS design allows for extreme heat dissipation with the added benefits of 90% high efficiency power conversion, low impedance and low EMI. 3)Gold Caps Golden Solid Caps Offer up to 6X longer lifespan than standard electrolytic capacitors. They also offer better heat resistance with up to 200K hours (22 Years) of operation under 65˚C.

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